On Judging Others!

Mankind has a natural inclination to pass judgment on one another. Even among christians we have a tendency to cast judgment on other Christians.

Now, there is no question that we are called by our God to assess, examine, and make a judgment at times with respect to people, places and things... in keeping with The Word of God and as we are led by The Holy Spirit. But that's not what I'm talking about here.

Here, I'm talking about the manner in which some of us, judge others of us when we should not. I am a christian, who has suffered with a very serious disease called legalism. Maybe you've heard of this illness? The legalism that I speak of is born out of a genuine desire to live a holy life according to The Word of God. But somewhere in the process the person suffering with this illness moves from a desire to live a holy life to a point where they can't move or think without beating themselves up about a particular matter.

The religious leaders of Jesus' day suffered from a type of legalism. They obeyed what the Scriptures in principle, but disobeyed The Lord in practice. That is to say, a surface look at their lives left the viewer with the impression that they were living a holy life... in keeping with the law of God. However, a deeper look at their heart revealed they'd violated the law of God and did not authentically love Him.

And, what's worse... they sat in judgment of others. Calling others hypocrites, referring to others as some kind of immature believer if you will.

In Romans chapter fourteen, the Apostle Paul writes to the saints who live in Rome about this very matter. In the end, he says that we should remember that The Lord God is the only Judge that matters. It's His judgment that is right and pure. His judgment matters.

Paul writes that we should not quarrel, fight or dispute of things that do not matter.

The late Dr. E. K. Bailey said: "Some things are urgent and some things are important. When it comes to The Gospel, it is both urgent and important".

Perhaps we've spent too much time examining the life of another believer, looking for the speck in their eye, and ignoring the forest in our own.

I believe God has called us to holiness. I believe we should seek to live holy lives. And seek to live that holy life in, through and by the power of The Holy Spirit. Being sure that our actions are guided by the instruction we receive in The Word of God.

I believe that we should not do anything in the presence of another believer that might cause that "weaker" less mature believer to stumble. We must recognize that not every believer is aware of the fact that Christ has made us free from the law of sin and death. Not every believer understands that we've been set free. Moreover, if the exercise of our freedom in Christ causes another, weaker, less mature believer to stumble in their faith- we should exercise that freedom in their presence... and perhaps not all.

Just because we can do something, doesn't mean we should. Especially, when it hurts or has potential to hurt someone else.

I believe that we should spend our time intentionally trying to win people to Jesus Christ. And intentionally trying to disciple people who are believers already. That is to say, we should seek to help the weaker, less mature believer become fully mature in Christ Jesus.

In the end it is salvation and discipleship that is both urgent and important.

Safe in Christ,
Sherman J. Fort